New year, new career? Do the research now to find your next move

Are you ready to make a change in your career as the current year closes and another one opens? Before taking the next step, you must identify the direction you are moving in and the choices you have. Ideas and motivation are great, but those two elements alone can’t guide you effectively. The key is to match your ideas with the associated realities to recognize the viable moves that you can make. You will be able to connect those ideas and realities by doing research. Key sources to find the information you need include people, professional online platforms, social media, and job boards.

First of all, connect with those working in the industry to find out important information such as opportunities, challenges, and day-to-day responsibilities associate with specific jobs. Once you have that information, consider how your skills and experience match with positions that you can attain. You can speak with professionals who work in the field that can provide their first-hand perspective, plus they may be able to offer you advice about entering the field. You can also speak with recruiters that hire personnel in the field who can analyze your qualifications to determine what kinds of positions you can attain. To identify these connections, look to LinkedIn and your professional network which can include current connections, professional associations, and networking events.

Next, LinkedIn and other professional-related online platforms are excellent sources of information related to jobs within most industries. You can search for professionals on LinkedIn and then examine their work and educational histories. You can also check out resources such as the Occupational Information Network through the U.S. Department of Labor (https://www.onetonline.org/) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/). Both of these sites include detailed information about jobs, key skills needed to perform them, salary ranges, core responsibilities, characteristics of those in positions, and job outlook/growth.

Tracking messaging via social media is another good way to understand more about companies or industries so you can learn if there are opportunities that will be a fit for you. Representatives of the organizations will highlight what they want you to know via their social media accounts, especially as the content relates to achievements and opportunities. You can examine the messaging produced through social media to see if those companies and organizations interest you, and if so, how you can connect with them. These social media sources are a great way to start researching organizations, but make sure you dig deeper because the messaging that is shared is carefully crafted to suit the organizations’ narratives.

Lastly, Job boards are easy to access and can provide a wealth of information about positions in various career fields. While it may be difficult to secure a job through job boards due to the volume of applications, they are fantastic resources you can use to identify jobs that are available, the qualifications you’ll need to secure them, and the duties you’ll perform in the roles. Start by search with keywords then note the patterns that emerge as you focus your search based on what you find.

While new job opportunities may seem exciting, it’s important to do your research so you can match your ideas with the true realities of positions. That will help you understand the jobs and align your skills and experience in a way that will make you a viable candidate as you choose to pursue them.

In-person networking is back!

Many employers, universities, and professionals are headed back to in-person networking events after two years of a virtual focus due to Covid. There are some commonalities between the two formats, but there are also some significant differences. Networking is essentially connecting with other people and sharing information. Are you ready to engage in live, in-person networking again? If so, check out the tips below to prepare.

Do you know who (or what) is reading your resume?

It’s exciting to discover a job opportunity that really appeals to you, right? As you draft your resume for that specific position, it’s important to be aware of who, or what, will be reading your resume and making the decisions about your candidacy. Not understanding the review and evaluation process can adversely affect your chances of getting the job, so let’s examine the two main audiences involved in the process: machines and the human hiring team.